Nurse Case Manager: What They Do and How to Become One

Nurse case managers collaborate with patients to help them receive the treatment they need to meet their wellness goals.

As a liaison between health care professionals, providers, and patients, nurse case managers use the case management process to assess patient needs, devise treatment plans, schedule appointments, and ensure all relevant stakeholders are properly coordinated. 

For registered nurses (RNs) interested in employing their medical knowledge to help patients receive the care they need outside of the examination room, a career as a nurse case manager could be a good fit.

Learn more about what a nurse case manager is, what they do, and how to become one. Explore the salary you can expect to earn, the job outlook for the field, and credentials and educational programs that may help you on the path to being a professional case manager. 

What is a nurse case manager?

A nurse case manager, or RN case manager, is a medical professional who works with patients and connects them with the health care professionals, providers, and resources they require to achieve their wellness goals.

As registered nurses (RN), nurse case managers use their medical expertise to ensure that patients have access to appropriate health services while also setting appointments for them, creating appropriate treatment plans, and communicating with health insurers. 

What do nurse case managers do?

A nurse case manager’s work focuses on providing clients with the best possible health care that fits their personal circumstances. Common duties they perform include:

• Evaluating a client’s medical history

• Interviewing clients and assessing their needs, health history, and existing support network

• Acting as a liaison between clients, health care providers, and health insurers

• Designing treatment plans and scheduling appointments

• Educating patients and their family members on relevant health-related matters

• Keeping track of health outcomes and suggesting possible treatment changes

• Providing care for patients

Nurse case manager salary

Nurse case managers often earn a higher-than-average salary.

According to Glassdoor, the average total pay a nurse case manager earns is $117,693 a year, which consists of a base annual salary of $105,037 and additional compensation of $12,656 [1]. Furthermore, Glassdoor notes that the average base pay nurse case managers can expect to earn changes with their experience level [1]:

• 0–1 year: $94,289 per year

• 1–3 years: $97,038 per year

• 4–6 years: $97,152 per year

• 7–9 years: $102,095 per year

• 10–14 years: $106,431 per year

• 15+ years: $110,531 per year

Nurse case manager job outlook 

Though no official job outlook data currently exists for nurse case managers, related data on both health care and nursing suggest that the field is likely to be healthy in the coming decade.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the health care profession has a projected growth rate of 1.9 million openings each year from 2023 to 2033 [2]. Over the same period, the BLS expects the number of nurses to grow by 6 percent, adding an additional 194,500 jobs each year [3]. These figures, combined with an aging population indicate that the field will likely need professionals for the foreseeable future.

Work environment

RN case managers may work in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, medical facilities, physician’s offices, government agencies, outpatient facilities, and insurance providers.

How to become a nurse case manager 

Nurse case managers are qualified medical professionals who pair expert knowledge with an astute understanding of the health care system. To join this impactful profession, you can do the following: 

1. Attend a nursing program. 

The first step to becoming a case manager is to become an RN, which requires attending an accredited nursing program.

Three types of programs teach the skills necessary to become an RN: non-degree nursing programs, an associate degree in nursing (ASN) program, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Each of these educational programs focuses on allowing you to build the skills and knowledge required to be a registered nurse, including medical knowledge and health care training.

Nonetheless, some employers may prefer candidates who have bachelor’s degrees, which is becoming more common in the profession. The best program for you, though, is likely the one that fits your needs and professional aspirations.

2. Take the NCLEX-RN and become licensed.

Once you have completed your nursing program, you become eligible to take the NCLEX-RN, which you must pass in order to practice professionally. Administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), the NCLEX-RN tests both your nursing knowledge and your ability to think critically through common nursing scenarios. After you have passed the NCLEX-RN, you must also receive your state licensure, which allows you to practice in the awarding state. 

3. Gain nurse case management experience.

After becoming an RN, you are technically qualified to become a nurse case manager. While in some cases, you might find a case management position right away, you can also gain experience in entry-level nursing positions that include some case management elements.

In these positions, you would build nursing experience while learning how medical facilities operate, how the health care system works structurally, and how case management nurses maneuver them to help clients.

Whatever path you choose, gaining some years of experience as a nurse will likely only improve your chances of pivoting into a case management position later. 

4. Consider nurse case manager certification.

One of the ways to signal your qualification as an RN case manager is to obtain certification. Some of the most common certifications include the following:

The Accredited Case Manager (ACM) Certification from the American Case Management Association (ACMA) demonstrates your professional expertise in the field. To obtain it, you must be a licensed RN or social worker, have at least 2,080 hours of case management experience, and pass a two-part exam consisting of knowledge-based questions and clinical simulations.

The Nursing Case Management Certification (CMGT-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center demonstrates your competency in the field. In order to obtain the certification, you must be a licensed RN who has practiced continuously for the past two years, has a minimum of 2,000 hours in clinical case management in the past three years and has completed 30 hours of case management education in the past three years.

Get started as a nurse case manager with Coursera 

A good case manager knows as much about the health care system and patient care as they do about actual health. If you’d like to start a career in the field, then you might consider taking an online educational course to hone your skill set and reinforce your knowledge.

Explore the University of Houston’s Value-Based Care Specialization, where you can learn how to lead a culture of collaboration in the workplace focused on value-based care.